<p>Pitt generally has a better reputation than UConn academically, especially when you look at things like the [Center</a> for Measuring University Performance](<a href=“http://mup.asu.edu/]Center”>http://mup.asu.edu/), or international rankings like [Times</a> Higher Education of London](<a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/top-200.html]Times”>World University Rankings 2010-11 | Times Higher Education (THE)), Quacquarelli Symonds, etc. </p>
<p>Pitt is also is a much bigger research center. It is in the top 10 of federally sponsored research. [Undergrad</a> research opportunities](<a href=“http://www.undergradresearch.pitt.edu/]Undergrad”>http://www.undergradresearch.pitt.edu/) at Pitt are much better, particularly in the bio and health sciences, but it is a big emphasis in many fields.</p>
<p>Pitt absolutely has its [student</a> union](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt_Union]student”>William Pitt Union - Wikipedia) open on the weekend. That is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Pitt is in a major city. You can go anywhere in the city to hang out, or just hang out around campus. Public transportation is free with a Pitt ID and many of the cultural events in Oakland and throughout the city are discounted or free thanks to the [Pitt</a> Arts](<a href=“PITT ARTS | Student Affairs”>http://www.pittarts.pitt.edu/) program.</p>
<p>Princeton Review also has Pitt ranked #8 for Happiest Students, and #11 for Best Quality of Life. There is a party scene at Pitt, but life doesn’t revolve around it. Being in a city, there is a tremendous amount of stuff going on. Pitt is also adjacent to Carnegie-Mellon and Carlow universities, and the city of [Pittsburgh</a> has one of the largest college student populations in the US](<a href=“http://www.coolpgh.pitt.edu/]Pittsburgh”>http://www.coolpgh.pitt.edu/). The city’s major museums are right across the street from the main building, the Cathedral of Learning. There’s a ton to do. Here’s an [url=<a href=“http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=141&f=2455&t=5547158]overview”>http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=141&f=2455&t=5547158]overview</a> of the area around campus<a href=“after%20you%20scroll%20past%20the%20athletic%20stuff”>/url</a>.</p>
<p>A major difference though is that Pitt is urban, whereas UConn is very rural</p>